Care homes bail out Scottish hospitals

Statistics released in Scotland show a substantial decline in bed blocking numbers with figures for the Lothians showing a 40 per cent reduction over the previous year in elderly people waiting in hospital for care home places. The figures for Scotland as a whole are down 20 per cent on last year. According to NHS Lothian, one of the reasons for the decline in numbers is the massive investment in social and residential care in the area. There has also been an increase in the number of social and health workers so assessments are being made more quickly and are being better targeted. NHS Lothian points out that the situation had previously been worsened in the area by private care homes being sold for housing, taking advantage of a property boom in the area, leaving a shortage of long term care beds.